Little Falls transcript., 1887-04-15
A DANGEROUS lNTOxiCANT.
Cocaine More To Be Dreaded Than
Alcohol or Opium.

l. L
Alcohol or Opium.
The resolution unanimously adopted
at the last meeting of the Kings County
Medical society favoring the passage Of
a bill by the legislature which shall
place cocaine on the list Of poisonous
drugs, to be sold only on physicians
prescription, marks distinct advance
in public and professional knowledge
of this drug and in methods of dealing
with it. Attention has been called
more than once in these columns to the
dangers Of the cocaine habit, and to
the increase of it in fashionable circles.
From it's very nature the growth of the
habit is secret and insidious; but our
fashionable doctors know and could
tell if they would, how many victims it
already numbers, and how terrible
more terrible than the results of the
alcohol or even the opium habit--are it's
effects.
DR.. Mattison, who has made a care
full study of the subject. adduced the
other evening no less than fifty one
cases showing the power of cocaine.
Summing up, he said:
My experience with & number of
! coca lie cases makes to me two things
| certain-thcre is pcrnicious power
! per Sc in this drug. and it finds in the
opium habitue peculiar condition that
specially favors it's i'll effects, making it,
! for such patients, as has we'll been said.
! the "devil's own device'' TO further en-.
slave. And this opinion is that of others,
for it is the testimony, without eXcep-
! ton SO far as know, of those who have
had to do with this disease that as an
intOxicant cocaine is more dangerous
than alcohol or opium, and that in
ebriety resulting from its use is more
marked and unyielding than any other
| form"
Resort is often had to this drug
by those who have fallen under the
power of alcohol, opium. or chloral. in
the hope of curing their loathed habit.
As to its effects in such cases, Dr. Mat
tison said:
Il think it, for many, notably the
large and enlarging number of opium
and alcohol habitues, the most facina-
ting and seductive dangerous and de-
structive drug extant; and while admit
ting it's great value in various disorder.
ed conditions, earnestly warn all
against its careless giving in these
cases, and especially insist on the great
danger of self-injecting, course almost
certain to entail added i'll. To the man
who has gone down under opium and
who think of taking to cocaine in hope
of being lifted out of the mire, I would
say, 'don't,' lest he sink the deeper.
II have yet to learn of a single in
stance in which such an effort reached
success; but know many cases where
failure followed, or, worse, cocaine or
coca-morphia addiction. And the need
of caution against frequent using OBJ.
! tains in other cases, for there may
come demand for continued taking
that will not be denied.''
Such testimony as this is not likely
to be gotten over. The society did
wisely in adopting its resolution, and
{. the legislature will do well to heed its
i request. The passage of such bill
!, would at least stop the indiscriminat;
use Of this dangerous intoxicant, ana
q might also render physicians more
. careful in using and prescribing it.
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